[Author's note: Cassidy Hayes, psychologist by day and mother of two, is struggling as her husband Damian cheats on her with Lily. Blackmailed through incriminating videos into doing what Lily tells her, Cassie finds herself yielding to the domineering sexy blonde younger woman. Meanwhile, Cassie is exploring a strange world, having made a new friend in Madame Syn, the owner of the Lost and Found and a highly accomplished Dominatrix. As her marriage implodes, torn between urges to dominate and submit, Cassie must make a choice.
It's a year to the day since Quinn's wife passed away, leaving him adrift, a submissive without a mistress. Through a series of counselling sessions at Syn's request, Cassie and Quinn have been working through his trauma at losing his lover. See
Alena's Game
for the backstory.
This episode contains graphic scenes of female domination, so if this is not your cup of tea, please feel free to skip this episode. Read the story tags: the tags are your friends.]
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CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP
Cassidy Hayes stepped out of the cab onto the darkened street, in front of the doors to the Lost and Found. She had found herself here more and more often in the weeks since Syn had invited her into her world. It had been a steep learning curve, but she had found herself drawn in, fascinated by the interplay. More and more, she found herself using it as a counterpoint to what she was facing at home: the slow, torturous erosion of her place in her husband's affections. She was looking forward to tonight, even if as a respite from Lily's relentless assault on her self-worth.
Cassie knew what this was; she was compartmentalising. She knew because she had seen her clients doing it as a way to cope with abuse and trauma. Regardless of the insight, Cassie's training and years of experience as a psychologist hadn't prepared her at all when it had happened to her. Lily had made it look easy, inescapable. Cassie drew herself upright, pushing away thoughts of the cruel, willowy blonde woman. Tonight was something she'd been building up to for months and she needed to focus.
Backlit by the garish window display of an all-night convenience store, she saw the tall, gangly figure of a middle-aged man in neat trousers and a dress shirt. Cassie straightened the hem of her little black dress and drew herself up straighter, her hand threading through her expensively-styled blonde hair, making sure everything was in place. She took a deep breath and walked over to him, swaying in her high heels.
The man's posture changed immediately, stiffening. He watched her approach, but didn't move.
"How are you, Quinn?" Cassie asked.
He gave her a quick smile that vanished as soon as it had appeared.
"I'm shitting myself."
In reply, Cassie reached out and enfolded the man in a warm embrace. His hands faltered, hovering in the air either side of her waist.
"It's okay, you're allowed," she murmured, and his hands slid around her, gripping tightly.
Cassie closed her eyes, enjoying the contact.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," she said, "Remember what we talked about."
At this, he pulled back so he could see her face. She watched his expression closely.
"I don't know, Mistress...."
Cassie cut him off with a shake of her head and Quinn corrected himself hurriedly.
"I don't know, Cassie. I thought I was ready but, really, I don't know."
Cassie smiled warmly. "It's a big step, but you really are ready," she replied.
She touched her index finger to his forehead, pressing gently. He closed his eyes.
"That's right. Just stop and breathe."
Seeing him begin to relax, she removed her finger and slid her hand into his, waiting.
"Okay. Let's go in," he said at last.
Cassie smiled, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
"Do you have your safeword?" she asked.
His face crumpled and for a second, Cassie thought all her reassurances had been undone.
"Starburst," he replied, "But... that was the one Alena gave me. I don't think I can use it. I just...."
"That's fine. Pick a new one."
He shrugged, his face sad. "I can't."
"Quinn, hey, you can."
"Sorry Cassie, no. It's not up to me."
Cassie regarded the man in silence, studying his reaction to her request. His body language had changed: already fragile, he was turning in on himself, faltering. After all their work together, he was beginning to unravel.
"Quinn," she began, probing gently, "You know her. How was last weekend? You had fun, didn't you?"
He regarded her nervously, then nodded. "Yes, we had a great time. Though a little too much wine."
"You like her?"
"I do, yes."
"Then do you think you're ready?"
Quinn steeled himself. "Okay. Let's do this," he said.
Cassie drew her shoulders back, standing taller in her high heels, eyes locked on his. The warm smile faded from her lips.
"At last," she said, a hard edge to her voice, "I was beginning to think you were just wasting my time."
She dropped his hand.
"I've worked so hard with you, trying to get you to the point that I could finally dispose of you. Madame Syn was right, you are a burden. Time to make you someone else's burden."
She turned, high heels clicking on the stone as she walked to a large double door set in sandstone, nestled between the convenience store and a darkened shop window. There was the faint glow of a neon sign shining from within. Cassie stopped at the entrance, waiting for Quinn to catch up.
He came to a halt, eyeing her nervously. She searched his expression, needing to be sure. He was unremarkable, neither handsome nor unattractive, dark hair turning to grey at the temples, eyes creased with worry lines.
"If she was still here, Mistress Alena would be so proud of you."
"I always obeyed her, Mistress, right up to the end."
"This command will be the hardest. But it was her last command. Show her that you were worthy of her attention, worm."
She paused, allowing him to process her words. Reaching into her handbag, she extracted a folded brown envelope.
"Your safeword is 'phoenix'," Cassie said.
"Thank you, Mistress Grace. I am utterly unworthy of you."
Cassie didn't reply, turning dismissively to leave him staring at her back. She strode into the entrance of the club.
"Pay the lady, worm."
Quinn hurried to the booth, paying the cover charge for them both then returning to her side. Cassie pushed past him through the inner doors and into the club.
It was still early, but the thud of the bass hit her like a wall, reverberating through her body. There was something about the tempo that seemed to synchronise with her, lifting her spirits. Wrapped in her tight little black dress, bare legs on display in her killer heels, make-up immaculate, she felt suddenly like she owned the place. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of men turn to watch her walk by. She felt their eyes on the sculpted curves of her body, the product of many hours at the gym, all that hard work to transform a thirty-something housewife into a sleek, hard body. She liked the way Quinn scurried behind her as she cut confidently through the crowd towards the back of the club. It felt good to occupy all his focus, and she stretched out her strides knowing that it would make her bottom wiggle in her short dress, torturing him.
Tony was standing on duty in front of the red velvet rope. He saw her coming through the crowd and unhooked it before she arrived, pushing the door open to admit her into the members' area. She smiled at him as she walked past, not losing momentum, chin high and blonde locks streaming behind her.
"Welcome to the Lost and Found," Tony announced.
Cassie slipped into the space beyond, hearing the footsteps of her companion behind her. She came to a halt, surveying the space they had entered. The door closed behind them, and the relentless thud of the music faded to a background hum, replaced by softer music.
She scanned the patrons, taking in the couple sitting at the bar, set against the far wall, the groups around the cocktail tables in the middle of the floor, the figures in the luxurious, dark vinyl booths set around two of the walls. The last wall, to her right, was taken up by a small stage. An empty DJ booth next to it was lit by a laptop screen, supplying a playlist. In the middle of the stage was a solid, stuffed leather pommel horse.
Across the room, a figure in one of the booths raised a hand and waved. Cassie smiled. Not waiting for her companion, she strode over to the darkened booth and slid into a seat opposite a broad middle-aged woman with copper-coloured hair in a tight bun, wearing a black, low-cut top and short leather skirt. Her outfit was complimented with high-heeled leather boots that came up to her knees. She smiled at Cassie. Quinn remained standing.
"Vodka soda," Cassie said, not bothering to look up.
The other woman followed with, "Gin and tonic."
She folded her hands carefully on the table, back straight, ignoring the man's presence. Quinn turned and left. Cassie watched him go, waiting until he was out of earshot before speaking.
"You look good, Ally."
The other woman made a face, her posture softening immediately.
